UAE’s Generosity Shines as Foreign Aid Crosses $98.09 Billion

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has contributed billions of dollars every year in foreign aid to more than 150 countries across the world. Its foreign aid goes towards developmental projects, humanitarian aid and charitable aid, poverty elimination, support for children, women empowerment, and infrastructure.  

Since its establishment in 1971, the UAE has provided more than $98 billion in foreign aid. In recent years, the UAE has funded various humanitarian campaigns and projects, including Yemen We Care 2015 campaign; For Your Sake Somalia (2017); supported Rohingya women and children (2019); and Warm Winter initiative in 2022.

Most recently, the UAE helped Syria and Turkiye earthquake victims through the ‘Bridges of Giving’ initiative in 2023 and ‘Tarahum for Gaza’ campaign amid the ongoing war.

UAE Foreign Aid Asia is Second-Largest Beneficiary

Asia receives the second largest portion of funds from the UAE with the first being Africa. In the past year, Asia has been bolstered with AED 6.63 billion. Some of the countries that benefit from UAE’s foreign aid are Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others.

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The UAE stands firmly by its promises of fulfilling commitments via foreign aid. The late President of the UAE Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan had emphasized that foreign aid is one of the basic pillars of the Emirate’s foreign policy. The UAE has a dedicated UAE Humanitarian Committee to facilitate, oversee and coordinate the country’s humanitarian aid.

The UAE heightened its helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving medical supplies, and financial assistance and foreign aid to countries in Asia to help contain and combat the spread of the deadly virus. It has helped towards tackling climate change and rebuilding infrastructure following natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

Most recently, the UAE promised the Philippines over $98 billion in foreign aid by mid-2024 in response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Karina. It also allocated $10 billion investment in Pakistan to help maintain the country’s economic stability.